Who: Percy Weasley, James Wilson + Fred (and George) Weasley When: Saturday 3/9 Where: Wilson’s then For the Lulz What: Accidental run in with the Twins Rating: High, there’s some sex, but mostly cute and then awkward. Status: Complete
Having managed to somehow have gotten the same days off this weekend was amazing. Although there had been an offer on the table to leave town, Percy hadn’t quite been up for the idea -- he just didn’t have the money saved up for that kind of thing, and refused to take that much advantage of Wilson’s kindness. There would be more time for trips, and soon enough Percy would be making a respectable pay.
Friday night, Percy and Wilson had stayed up later than usual -- doing all their usual things, and when Saturday morning had come around, Percy was especially pleased to not have to wake up and run home in order to change and get to work on time. He was normally an early riser, and had the routine of brew coffee, shower, drink coffee and breakfast upon waking. Today though, he’d spent the extra time just laying in bed next to Wilson and enjoying it.
Wilson had yawned, stretching and rolling into Percy’s warm frame, smiling to himself. “Morning.” It had felt like he’d slept in, but really, it was only eight. Which, technically was sleeping in for him, but he was well aware that for 99% of the people he knew, that was still ridiculously early. “How’d you sleep?”
It was only too easy for Percy to wrap his arms around the other man, lazily nuzzling his head against Wilson’s chest. “Good,” Percy said, always a touch shy. “You’re bed’s more comfortable than mine.” He’d been up for the better part of an hour now, but Wilson’s yawn was a bit infectious, and he found himself doing the same.
Wilson’s hands immediately went to run lazy circles over Percy’s back and arms, one running through his hair. “I’m glad. Well. Not so much that your bed at home is a torture device, but more that you slept well here. That’s important.” Wilson wanted Percy to have a place where he felt safe, where he felt comforted and loved. “Is there anything you need to do today? Well. Besides breakfast. I was going to make pain perdu.”
Fairly sure that pain perdu was some kind of french toast, Percy gave a half nod. He liked when Wilson cooked, even if Percy was fairly sure he’d eaten more in the last week than he had in a very long while.
“My bed’s not a torture device,” he laughed, amused. “It just never had you in it, I guess.” Eyelids lowering half way, he decided he liked the petting he was receiving. “And -- I didn’t have any finite plans. Although I do suppose I should find the time to buy some more proper work clothes.” For his new job. Which he started in two weeks, after finishing out his time at Stark Industries.
“We can go shopping.” Wilson kissed Percy lightly before sitting up and stretching. “Maybe I want to help you try on clothes.” Wilson couldn’t help but smirk a little. He’d forgotten how fun it could be when he was the rebellious, devil-may-care one in the relationship. It was kind of awesome, but he still hoped Percy felt loved. Not played with. There was a line.
“Do you want syrup or whipped cream?” He hoped Percy knew he meant on the pain perdu.
Percy wouldn’t have ever considered that he was being played with. He just considered Wilson’s words as exactly what they were - banter. The two of them had a good repertoire where that was concerned.
“Maybe I’d like it if you did,” Percy responded with sharp wit. “It’d be quite the change up from you helping me take them off.” Well, he thought it was funny. There was something compelling about searching for a new tie in front of Wilson -- who clearly had a near-fetish for the things.
“And whichever you like best,” he said, refraining from the obvious joke because it was just too easy. “As long as there’s coffee.”
“Of course there’s coffee.” Wilson smiled to himself, slipping on a pair of boxers and walking to the kitchen. He started some coffee in the French press and started to soak the bread in an egg, sugar, and milk mixture. He hummed a little to himself, finally feeling that his apartment was a home.
It was really the people that made it a home, and having Percy around helped more than Wilson had ever thought possible. He hadn’t even known that he’d needed help until he’d met Percy.
Having actually planned to be around for the weekend, Percy actually had the right kind of clothing for the moment. He’d followed Wilson into the kitchen a moment later, wearing blue pajama bottoms that were just a bit too long, and an older looking t-shirt. It made him look younger than he was, he was sure, to wear such ill fitting clothes, but even he wasn’t a stranger to comfort.
He sat at the kitchen table, leaning over a bit and resting his head on crossed arms. He liked watching Wilson cook more than he should have, probably.
It was likely because Wilson was a doctor and had to assist in surgeries that he did everything so methodically, so exacting. Even his process of making breakfast was quick and efficient - he made the whipped cream while he bread fried, he pressed the coffee once the cream was done, he dished everything out quickly and easily.
Soon Percy had a plate of thick French toast with whipped cream on top and a cup of rich coffee on top of it. “Do you take cream or sugar?”
“Normally yes,” Percy said, eyeing the french toast a little suspiciously before transferring some of the whipped from the top of it into his coffee. “But not today.”
It was clear he relished the idea of the coffee more than the breakfast -- but didn’t seem to waste any time not eating it, either. It was really good, after all; he wasn’t used to real breakfasts so much as quick fruit or cereal. “You’re spoiling me,” he intoned. “I’ll have to give cooking a try next time.”
Wilson laughed, following suit with his own coffee. “It’s not so difficult as most people make it out to be. I’ll teach you. Tonight, you’ll make dinner.” Wilson smiled, squeezing Percy’s hand. “We can get ingredients after we go to get you clothes.”
And for a while there was companionable silence, the kind of thing that normally scared Wilson, but had come to be a comfort with Percy. “I’m almost as excited about your new job as you are, I think.”
Liking the sound of that, Percy gave an agreeable nod. He’d try something easy first, and he knew that Wilson wouldn’t make it difficult on him, or judge him when he made it difficult on himself.
Percy sipped his coffee, and then stood to clear and rinse his own dish (a bit promptly, but he was tired of Wilson getting to it first). “Are you?” he asked, although he already kind of knew it. “I have to admit a certain -- nervousness toward it.”
“I think you’ll do well, and I think it’ll make you happy.” Wilson smiled, turning to look at him. “You’re like me. If there’s no challenge, if there’s no way to be better, what’s the point?”
Inclined to agree with that, Percy only gave a nod in return. He was sure the new job would make him happier -- after the initial awkward phase, that was. Starting a new job was difficult no matter what, and Percy had the feeling that Helen Magnus was a woman who was exceptionally good at being intimidating. Still, Percy was an effectual sort, so he was sure he’d manage.
He finished off his coffee, and then moved closer to Wilson to lay a kiss on the other mans’ forehead. Sometimes he surprised himself with how forward he was. “Shower?” He murmured in a suggestive question.
“Why Percy, are you trying to seduce me?” Wilson grinned, standing up. “Because it worked. Shower it is.” He ran his hands through his hair, figuring he needed one after sex the night before anyway.
If nothing else, Percy seemed amazingly enthusiastic about sex basically all the time. “I like to keep my success rate high,” said Percy in a tone that was reserved for only when he was feeling particularly smug. Which was a lot lately. And then he all but led Wilson to the bathroom, stepping on the bottoms of his own pants all the way there. It hardly mattered, seeing as he’d be taking them off in a short moment, anyway.
Fortunately, Wilson found Percy’s smug voice ridiculously hot. He grinned as he walked with Percy to the bathroom, starting up the shower and stripping out of his boxers. “So, I’m glad you aren’t freaking out about doing things like shopping with me today.” Because really, Wilson wasn’t that exciting on his days off. This was pretty much what he did. He went grocery shopping. He paid bills. He read. He watched AMC. Only now, it looked like he had sex in the shower, too.
Sex in the shower was a good addition to that list -- and it was all about the same stuff that Percy did, except maybe the AMC part. Mostly, he just read and cleaned. Sometimes, he’d go to a cafe just to mix things up.
“Why would I freak out?” Percy wanted to know as he rose an eyebrow.
“Some people don’t like dating a bore.” Wilson leaned in to kiss Percy gently, wrapping his arms contentedly around him. “I feel lucky.” And he did - he felt lucky to have a man in his life that loved him, that understood him. Wilson was slowly but surely growing to trust Percy, learning that for as awkward as he felt at times, Percy didn’t care.
“Do you actually think you’re boring?” Percy settled his hands on Wilson’s hips, as he was wont to do in times like these. “Because I think you’re definitely off the mark, if that is the case.” Sure, they weren’t the most spontaneously active of people, but there was nothing wrong with that.
“I’ve heard it enough times from my exes where I think I started to believe it, yeah.” Wilson sighed a little to himself, letting his thumb run up and down Percy’s cheekbones. “Maybe I made the mistake of dating women who were ... overly enthusiastic.” Wilson had started to think that maybe he’d made the mistake of dating women, period. Sure, he liked sleeping with them, but he didn’t understand them well enough to sustain a relationship with one.
“Overly enthusiastic?” What did that mean, anyway? Well. That was why he’d asked, so he supposed he’d find out. Percy turned his head to kiss at Wilson’s thumb, and then pulled away a little to turn the shower on (about time he’d figured it out on his own, too). “You really aren’t though,” he repeated it with the thought that perhaps if he said it enough, Wilson might get to believing that instead of the other way around.
“I dated women who were a mile a minute. My most recent wife, she had to have literally everything planned out.” Wilson shivered a little, naked in the cool bathroom. “Julie needed to do everything. Like, the last day off I remember with her - “ It had turned into a huge fight, of course Wilson remembered it. “She had horseback riding lessons planned, plus a tour of a museum, plus a museum.” It made Wilson’s head throb just to think of it. Wilson was a homebody. He was introspective. He was an introvert that loved people. He knew it.
Percy wasn’t much of a social butterfly either. Probably the only difference between them was that not many people tended to like him. Wincing slightly, Percy shook his head. “Not that I don’t like museums,” he said, “but that’s a bit unacceptable.” He was, admittedly, started to wonder what Wilson’s wife selecting process had been like.
Slipping his shirt off, Percy neatly folded it before moving on to do the same with his pants -- setting them both on the counter and then his glasses on top of them before practically ushering James into the shower.
“I like going to museums, but that’s enough excitement for me for one day. I thought Julie was fun and exciting at first, but ... yeah. That wore off.” It was partly why he’d married Julie to begin with, that and he’d sort of ... wanted someone. He’d thought that he’d be less lonely if someone was in his house with him. He hadn’t learned yet that the worst sort of loneliness was living with a stranger.
The water woke Wilson up, and he sighed as it ran through his thick hair, over his face. “Mmmph, I love this shower. Totally worth moving out here for this.” And Percy didn’t hurt either.
Exciting did kind of wear off after a while, into something much more tedious. That’s quite how Percy felt about his younger brothers -- the twins in particular. He supposed he could understand better than most.
“I’m sure you couldn’t find a shower like this on the East coast,” Percy agreed dryly, even as he rested his head against the curves of Wilson’s shoulder blades. Not that he didn’t agree, it was a good shower.
“Nope, never.” Wilson grinned, turning his body enough, twisting so he could catch Percy’s mouth with his. “Are you going to get sick of me feeling lucky to have you?”
“Hmmm,” Percy responded, kissing back -- Wilson tasted of coffee and warm water, and it wasn’t something he thought he could get sick of -- Wilson, in general, was not something he thought he could get sick of. And Percy was amazingly fond of feeling feeling appreciated. He decided to say so not in words, but instead physically (something he was starting to get good at, he thought).
Chuckling at his own stupid question, Wilson knew the answer when Percy kissed him. Murmuring an ‘I love you’ that got muffled by the resonating sound of water on porcelain, Wilson ran his fingers over Percy’s arms. Everything about Percy was another fact to be cataloged - the fact that his pale skin grew redder when it was warm or when he blushed, which made his freckles look all the cuter. The fact that when he was embarrassed, he looked down. The way his nostrils flared when he was truly offended. The light blue flecks in his eyes that offset the brighter blue ones. Just to look at Percy was to fall further in love with him.
Wilson looked forward to the rest of the day, but vowed to enjoy the moment, closing his eyes and sighing.
The water always flattened Percy’s bangs oddly -- ruining his carefully laid part and making them run down nearly into his eyes. Pushing them to the side, he smiled a bit shyly-- an expression that counteracted him pressing Wilson against the wall of the shower and laying kisses down his chest.
Wilson’s smile was loving and sweet, but he couldn’t help but laugh in excitement and adrenaline - it wasn’t every day he got head in the shower, despite what his coworkers thought. “I really do mean what I said last night.” Wilson hadn’t forgotten, and he doubted he ever would.
Percy believed him. Completely. He was absolutely no reason not to -- he was youngish and lacking in any real relationship experience and had no real reason to be cynical about things like that. But even if he had, Wilson had said it with such clarity and honesty that Percy would have believed it in spite of himself anyway.
“I know,” Percy said, tone quiet in comparison with the spray of the water. He was glad for the size of this bathtub even as rested on his knees in front of Wilson, laying a kiss on the older man’s inner thigh. He glanced up before doing anything else, looking to meet Wilson’s eyes with his own. “I -- love you, too.”
Wilson couldn’t help himself. “I know.” Hey, if he was ever going to have a moment to be Han Solo, it was going to be taken.
Percy gave a huff and leaned back a little to give Wilson a look that was supposed to be disapproving but ended up mostly amused anyway. Because Star Wars was awesome, okay? “Don’t think I won’t bite.” Clearly, the threat wasn’t a very serious one.
“Okay, fine, you get to be Han.” Wilson grinned, reaching down to run damp fingers through Percy’s hair. “And I love you too.” He loved Percy’s playful moments, mostly because he thought (and rightly so) that the other man simply didn’t get many.
Closing his eyes as Percy’s lips - warmer than the water, somehow - touched his leg, Wilson smiled to himself. “This is, hands down, been the best month of my life.”
“As if I could play a scoundrel,” It probably wasn’t the best time to argue the finer points of sci-fi movies, but Percy was sure he’d get around to telling Wilson that he’d always preferred Luke, anyway.
Inclined to agree with the assessment of the month (but only if it was this month, and not the last 30 days - hey, he was counting), Percy allowed himself a half dip of his head in a nod before running his tongue down Wilson’s length.
“Mm, you’re more of a post trilogy Luke, after he went through the hero’s journey oh god I’m talking about Joseph Campbell during a blowjob,” Wilson spluttered.
Percy actually had to pull back a little to let out a weird bark of a laugh. “You’re archetyping me!” he said, eyebrows raised and completely amused. Wilson did have a funny sense of timing about these things, but Percy found it endearing anyhow.
Wilson winced. “Is that bad?” He couldn’t help but worry.
“Only if you move on to Jung,” said Percy who made a face very similar to the one he’d made the time he’d tried Wilson’s red wine. And clearly not too bad, since the younger man had moved his hand to replace where his mouth had just been.
Groaning, James ran his fingers through Percy’s hair. “I’m not that much into metaphorical readings of things, and the collective subconscious, while a nice idea, seems more coincidence than anything else I love you can I stop talking now?”
He’d grovel. Don’t make Wilson grovel.
“You started it,” Percy said, this shy of petulant. But really, yes, he could stop talking, because while blow jobs in the shower were fun, kneeling against porcelain and ceramic for forever really just wasn’t. The redhead wasn’t going to complain, but he also had no intention of being down there forever, especially if he was actually going to be walking around today.
“I know I did, I’m sorry,” he whimpered, tugging lightly at Percy’s hair. And fortunately for Percy’s knees, it didn’t take him very long to finish. He was glad that he didn’t fall down in the shower, as it would’ve hurt his pride and his ass.
But the water was being wasted, and Wilson was turning pruney. “Should we get out of the shower?”
“Please,” Percy said in agreement even as he went about the awful effort of standing up with sore knees. Everyone made it look so easy in the, uh, movies.
Wilson shut off the water once they were rinsed, moving to blow dry his hair after putting some anti-frizz stuff. His hair took a certain amount of management to keep it from looking just terrifying. He really hoped Percy wouldn’t find the whole grooming process too precious. Julie had. Really, Wilson found himself just wishing he didn’t have to talk to Julie anymore, but the woman continued to persist in trying to be friends with him.
He finished with his hair and went to put on his slacks, smiling at his boyfriend. “So, clothes then groceries?”
The process was cute, but not really off the wall in any way. Percy used a weird mousse of his own that kept his hair soft but in place -- as it tended to curl a bit if he didn’t. Curls were unacceptable. “Yes,” he agreed. As much as he might like to pretend otherwise, he did like shopping for clothes when he had a good reason for it -- and so found he was a bit excited.
Once they were both set to go, they did just that. Percy checking his pockets for the third time since they’d left Wilson’s condo just to make sure he had all his required things (a strange habit, but one he’d always had). “Do you want to drive?”
“Sure.” Wilson grabbed his keys and wallet, unlocking the Solara by remote and sliding into the driver’s seat. “Any places you want to go in particular for clothes? You know your body better than I, and you really do know how to dress it.” He loved looking at Percy, probably more than he’d admit openly since it made him sound pervy.
Busying himself with seatbelt buckling, Percy considered the question, with a vague smile at the compliment. “I’ve never really gone shopping here -- but I heard of a place in Huntington Beach? I think they do smaller sizes.” You know what’s a pain? Wearing 28x32 and expecting to find it in normal stores. Percy had given up on department stores a long time ago for things like pants because most of those places just assumed if you were tall you were also a bit heavier. Life was very unfair sometimes.
Wilson didn’t have that sort of problem; he was fairly average in all physical respects save two (his hair was still thick and grew ridiculously fast, even in his forties, and he knew he was fairly well endowed). But he smiled at Percy’s lament. “Once you hit thirty and your metabolism stops, you’ll miss these days.” He aimed the car for Huntington Beach, taking Percy’s hand and kissing his knuckles.
That wasn’t encouraging, really. As difficult as it was to shop for, Percy rather enjoyed being as thin as he was -- even if he was unsure in most other aspects, he’d always considered himself to be a fairly attractive sort. He only rose his eyebrows though, and smiled at the little kisses. “Might be sooner than that if you keep insisting on cooking,” he said, smoothly, teasingly.
“Oh, I think you’re getting enough exercise to mitigate eating a normal diet.” Wilson winked at him. “Trust me. I’m a doctor.”
“Oh dear,” Percy said with a faint blush, and was not sure if it was in reply to wink or the innuendo.
Luckily, the ride was not very long, because Percy’s growing urge to kiss Wilson was getting to the point where he couldn’t hold it in much longer; in fact it only lasted until the car was settled into park.
Wilson grinned when he was kissed, wrapping his arms around Percy and kissing him harder. He didn’t care if they were in the parking lot and people could stare. He was going to make out with his boyfriend.
After a moment of snogging, Wilson leaned back and smiled at Percy. “So. Trousers? I know a good tailor if you find something that’s too long or too wide.”
Yay make-outs! Percy had a look of vague self satisfaction even as he licked his lower lip and undid his seatbelt. “Yes.” he agreed, even as he got out of the car. He recalled the place being on the main little strip here and was keeping a keen eye out, ignoring the tiny restaurants and ice cream shops along the way.
“And one can never have too many ties,” he said, and failed completely at making it sound innocent.
Wilson didn’t blush as often as Percy, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t. His grip on Percy’s hand went a little tighter as his cheeks and ears went red, smiling and looking down. “Touché,” he laughed. “I suppose I deserved that.”
“Hardly,” Percy said rather fondly, pausing in his stride to adjust his glasses and look around the area -- reading the names of the businesses in a way that looked like he was studying for a test. He’d been here before, he knew, although couldn’t quite place why -- no. Nevermind, he remembered now. Just there, a little ways up the block was his brothers’ store. Something he was definitely going to just avoid.
“Maybe we should cross the street,” he said, finally finding the place he was actually looking for.
Wilson nodded in agreement. “All right,” he grinned. “You know where we’re going. This is a nice area, though.”
“I don’t end up over here much,” Percy said, laconic, although not disagreeing. They crossed the street, the redhead gripping Wilson’s hand even still. He couldn’t help but eye his brothers’ store a little warily as they walked by it on the opposite side of the street-- as if just waiting for one of the twins to exit from the door.
Wilson noticed. “Bad experience there?” He was still holding Percy’s hand, but seeing his boyfriend in distress brought him to wrap his arm around Percy’s shoulders. He kissed his shoulder, ignoring anyone looking at them.
Which, in turn, made Percy ignore everyone else, too. “What?-- oh-- well. Not exactly.” He shook his head, leaning into Wilson slightly as they walked. He might have gone on to explain why he was bothered by the place, but found himself interrupted.
“Percy?” And then there was one Fred Weasley, standing right in front of the two of them, coffee in hand from -- ah. The coffee shop directly across the street from the Joke Shop.
Wilson blinked. Besides them both being gingers, there was a distinct family resemblance. He suddenly felt like a third wheel, and he blinked, looking down at his boyfriend who had just stiffened up.
Percy did not blink. In fact, he just stood there without saying much of anything for a moment. He had a very stupid urge to just step behind Wilson and stay there forever -- but refused to do so. “Oh,” he said, finally finding words, even as he pushed his glasses further up his nose. “Fred.” Unlike the rest of his family, Percy had never had any trouble telling the twins apart.
If awkwardness ran in the family, Fred certainly didn’t let on to the fact. Instead, he tilted his head to the side, taking in his older brother, and then the man he was clearly with. Interesting, truly.
And then he grinned, bright, cheerful, vaguely predatorily. He couldn’t help himself. “Wotcher,” he greeted the both of them. “What brings you to our neck of town?”
Our. Clearly, this was one of the twins. Wilson filed away that bit of information, reaching down to take Percy’s hand into his. “Suit shopping, actually. They’re boring, and they’re expensive, but they must be bought.” He took a step forward, reaching out a hand. “James Wilson. You must be Thing One.” Like the Cat in the Hat. Belatedly, he found himself hoping that the twin would get the joke.
It would be a rare day when Fred didn’t get a joke, particularly one that had to do with twins. “Or thing Two. Either way.” he said, sounding just delighted as he reached out to shake hands with the man. “A pleasure. Fred Weasley,” he introduced slyly, as if it were needed, even as he not very subtly peaked at Percy, who had gone an embarrassing shade of red.
“Suits? How very droll, indeed.” Fred saw no reason for the things, personally. “And no visit for us in the trip?” he didn’t sound so much accusatory as he did teasing.
Percy, Wilson would find, had very few words to give on the matter. His expression had gone blankly stern -- although his grip remained tight. “Not really.”
Wilson lifted Percy’s knuckles to his mouth and lightly kissed them, wanting his boyfriend to be more calm. He didn’t know why there was such a rift in his family, but Wilson also knew that even if he’d tried his hardest, he wouldn’t be able to repair it. It just wasn’t his place. The best he could do was to go along, quietly. “Well. Suits are a bit essential in our lines of work. I’m a doctor, and you - well, you know about Percy’s line.” He didn’t mention the bar exam or the new job. Wilson hoped Percy noticed.
To say that Fred looked a bit like that cat that got the cream would be an understatement. “A Doctor? That’s brilliant. And oh yes, Perce here is professionally serious,” He sipped his coffee, not able to help himself from just watching the pair. That Percy was gay was hardly a surprise -- he and George had suspected that for years. That he was actually with someone and admitting it, something else completely. He was nearly proud of his older brother.
“Fred,” said Percy, still flushed, but apparently still able to make a slightly disapproving tone. “I’m a laywer. Well. Will be. Two weeks.”
Fred only rose an eyebrow at that, wondering why their mother hadn’t thrown a dinner party yet if that was the case.
Wilson couldn’t help but grin at Percy’s Older Brother tone. “You passed. You are one.” He turned Percy’s head to snog him, knowing that it would make Percy go all pink, as well as grossing out his younger brother.
Well, one of those was right -- Percy definitely went all pink, but it didn’t stop him from kissing back either -- even though he made an attempt to keep it as chaste as possible. He’d never hear the end of this, he was sure. “Oh, well. Yes. Lawyer then.”
Fred, on the other hand, shook his head, obviously more amused than grossed out. “Congratulations in that case. Looks like that’s not all you’ve achieved, recently.” And because Fred couldn’t be anything but obvious, he looked pointedly at Wilson. “Our mum’d love you, she would. Has she invited you down for dinner, yet?” Mischievous? Definitely.
Percy, of course, only frowned at that question. “Don’t you have work to be doing?”
Fred’s smile in return was pleasant, in not a bit purposefully oblivious.
Wilson was glad he’d helped Percy go more pink than red. Pink was more aroused, red was more ‘brb going to die now’. He wrapped an arm around Percy, smiling. “It’s possible, though honestly, I’m pretty bad about checking my messages. I had to assist on two surgeries yesterday, then went and got ready for Percy to come over, so I haven’t exactly been waiting by the phone.”
One thing that Wilson had learned while he was in unsuccessful marriages was that when in doubt? Dance around the subject.
Of course, they all knew full well that wasn’t the case. Percy was well known for not vocalizing any sort of important information that his family might get wind of. But both the brothers let it slide.
“We have to go now,” Percy said a bit primly -- standing up straighter and forcing himself to look bored about his current scenario. “Do say hello to George and Verity for me.”
Fred, in return only rolled his eyes and then gave a daring sort of grin. “Stop by more often. Do it yourself.” Not that he wouldn’t open his mouth to talk to his twin the second he stepped back into his shop. Like he did.
Percy’s expression in response to that was a sour one.
Wilson didn’t say anything, but his thumb stroked Percy’s knuckles lightly, in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. Once the other redhead was out of earshot, Wilson turned to the redhead he was in love with. “You okay?”
Too many redheads in one city. Ugh. Percy was studying the ground as if there was some kind of written script there, frowning. “Did you find him likable?” He asked, instead of responding to the question.
“Do you want the honest answer, or the one you want?” Wilson chuckled. “Yes, I did. But I didn’t grow up with him. It’s different when you’re family, I think.” Wilson moved to inhabit the area where Percy was trying to bore a hole into the concrete, crouching and looking up. “But I love you. Love and like are ... different.”
Staring, Percy went a bright pink at that - wringing his hands a little awkwardly, as if trying to decide if he wanted to pull Wilson back up into a standing position or just tackle him directly in the street. Decency won out (as it was prone to, for Percy), and he offered his boyfriend a hand and a shy smile. “I know,” he said. “And you’re allowed to like him, of course. Everyone else does. I-- well. It’s easier to deal with just one at a time, anyway. He’s just always so --” He spread his free hand, fingers wide as if he couldn’t find the right word. “Well. He’s so Fred.” What other way was there to say it? He was almost positive if he turned around to look at their store front again, he might find the twins sticking their noses against the window and giving that obnoxious grin they’d both mastered from a young age.
“He’s always so boisterous?” Wilson smiled, shaking his head. “My brother’s like that too. And he was Mom’s favorite. Still is. We don’t know where he is, but wherever he is, she loves him more. Still.” Wilson chuckled. “Come on. Let’s blow his mind and go say hi. Five minutes, and I’ll be with you the whole time.” He kissed Percy lightly, as if to instill him with courage. Wilson understood the dilemma of the Less Favored Child.
“I’m fairly sure he was just behaving himself, if you can believe it.” Percy said, pulling a face, but then letting it slide away, thoughtful. He couldn’t help but wonder what Wilson meant when he said they didn’t know where his brother was -- and if he should ask. Was there ever a good time to bring something like that up? He didn’t like talking about his own family, even when they were only fifty feet away.
His own mother didn’t really play favorites with her sons, not really. His sister was the special case, but probably more because she was the only daughter, and the youngest. Then again, Percy liked her best, too. He’d always been, technically, the middle child. And that was the one that was usually least favored. It was just the way of families, from what he understood.
“Five minutes?” He repeated, as if looking for that reassurance again. The idea of seeking out the twins in their own domain was a nearly frightful one. But -- he was not without his own sense of mischief on occasion, and could see how it might be... well. Something. “...All right.”
“Five minutes.” Wilson smiled, cupping Percy’s cheeks. “I’ll tell you about David later. I hate crying in public.” Taking Percy’s hand, they ambled across the street, Wilson sort of excited to see Percy doing something that might help his life get back into order. He really wanted Percy to have his family. Something might happen to them that might make them disappear, and he was sure Percy was the type to regret that or blame himself.
The thought of Wilson crying at all was rather sobering, and Percy couldn’t help but feel anxious about it. Not that he didn’t feel anxious about most things -- but this, now, more than usual. Setting that information and concern aside in his mind for the moment, he focused on the task at hand: getting through the next five minutes.
There was a bell on the door of the shop - For the Lulz - and Percy found himself annoyed with the false pretenses that that friendly little jingle made. “Well,” he said, looking about a bit warily, as if any number of things might jump out at him if he didn’t pay enough attention. To be fair, his concern was not unwarranted in a shop like this.
Fred had found a spot on the top of his service counter, next to his register, to sit upon -- casual, lazy and looking right at home. “Oh,” he said, in half real surprise. “hello again.” His gaze flitted over the two of them, seeking out his twin in the aisles.
Wilson squeezed Percy’s hand as they walked. “You know, I have a couple of patients who are kids, I might grab them a few things.” Wilson kept a hold of Percy’s hand as he browsed, nodding to Fred. “Hello again. I realized I’d never come in here before.”
“Of course you haven’t,” Fred said with a half smile - recovering from his surprise more quickly than Percy ever might, even as his twin appeared from out of the woodwork in order to finish the sentence up. “We’d have remembered you.” It was apparent that they did that sort of thing often, as Percy only rolled his eyes in response.
“George,” Percy said of the other twin, to Wilson in way of introduction. “Hello again.” The hand holding helped, the bespectacled brother looked more sure of himself this time.
Wilson smiled, nodding at the other twin, noting differences in face shape and dress so he’d be able to tell them apart. “Thing Two, it’s good to meet you. James Wilson.” He took his other hand, offered it to George to shake, before resuming his hunt for toys. “Hmm. If I was a sick kid, what would I want? Besides not being sick, obviously.”
Fred and George both snickered at the titles they’d been given -- how could they not? George shook his hand before reconvening next to Fred near the register -- just watching. Even though Percy obviously knew them both, he often thought of the Siamese cats from The Lady and the Tramp when they got like this.
“I always liked books,” Percy answered, a little helplessly. He’d never been one for toys, even as a child.
“We have books,” Fred said, although did not get up to show them where. “Funny ones,” George agreed.
“I liked books too,” Wilson smiled, looking at Percy like he was the only person in the room. He kissed Percy’s earlobe before walking with him to find funny books - if only because no sick child wanted something too serious. Even Wilson had favored Encyclopedia Brown while ill.
Dealing with the Twins was a lot easier when Wilson was around, Percy noted even as he followed the other man around a little bit like a love-sick puppy. “I thought you might,” he said of the books. They were very similar in some regards -- but then, Percy had known that the second he’d laid eyes on Wilson’s study. A magical place, really.
“Adorable,” said Fred, and George nodded in agreement even as he crossed his arms and leaned familiarly against his twin.
“Isn’t he?” Percy asked, sounding a bit smug, because in some regards, he was just as bad as his brothers.
Wilson grinned at Percy, shaking his head. “I’ve got the body of a reader, don’t you think?” In Wilson’s youth he’d been as lanky as Percy; only in his late thirties had his metabolism slowed to a sluggish yawn. But jogging helped with that.
He picked up a few titles - Sideways Stories from Wayside School had been a fun book, he’d read it to a patient he’d had a few years prior. But when he overheard Fred, Wilson turned to look at the twins. “Something tells me I’m being talked about. And thank you for not calling me ‘cute’, I’ve always preferred adorable.”
He resumed his shopping, putting a pair of fox ears on his head that allegedly moved in time with his heartbeat and emotions. They remained erect.
“You’ve got the body of you,” Percy said, nearly smiling, and took the opportunity to wander away a bit, glancing with obvious disapproval at a life-sized cardboard cut out of their younger sister. He wondered if she approved of the Twins selling something like that -- then again, she’d always been a bit silly too. Hopefully they at least shared the profits.
The twins had moved closer now, peeking at the two over an aisle, just red hair, waggling eyebrows and bright eyes. “What’s wrong with cute?” They wanted to know, and probably even they didn’t know which one had actually said it.
“Did you know you’re a bit of a Cheshire Cat?” Wilson answered the twin’s question with a question, blinking when he saw the cutout. “Another sibling, I expect? She has your nose.” Trust Wilson to mention the Weasleys having a nose in common, not hair or freckles.
“Yes,” the twins responded simultaneously, and then both gave grins that lived up to that namesake. “And that’s Ginny,” Fred said.
“Our beloved little sister,” agreed George.
“She’s an actress,” Percy filled in, a little dryly, in not a little embarrassed at the same time. “Does Disney stuff... she’s getting quite popular, I expect. Although I don’t know how I feel about you two profiting from it.” He made his way back to Wilson, settling his chin on his shoulder.
Wilson’s arms went immediately around Percy’s waist. “Oh, dear. That’s where I know her from. The little boy I’m treating, Nigel, he’s just mad for her. I may have to take him one of those cutouts.” Wilson kissed Percy lightly. “He’s got a couple of months.” Saying things like that was old hat to Wilson, someone who knew the odds of beating cancer at Nigel’s age were small, especially when his cancer was aggressive.
Taking the moment to actually let himself feel upset about it, a luxury he seldom took, Wilson let himself bury his head in Percy’s hair and breathe deeply.
“I’m sorry,” Percy said softly, quite meaning it. He wasn’t sure how anyone could handle the sort of job Wilson had -- he was certain he wouldn’t be able to. Perhaps time made it easier -- but even then...
He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend; silent comfort. There wasn’t else much to do for it, and they both knew it.
The twins, on the other hand, rose their eyebrows at each other, in their own weird, silent twin conversation. They’d been doing that for as long as anyone could remember. They didn’t deal well with tension of any sort, and weren’t particularly keen on silence either -- hey, there was a reason that they both had gone into the business of fun. “Why settle for a cut out?” said one -- “We could probably buy her off in favors to just go visit,” said the other. Hey, they could occasionally be cruel in some regards, but all the Weasley’s tended to be kind at heart at some point or another.
“She doesn’t have to do that, I don’t want to rope a stranger into doing something like that unless she’d want to.” Wilson spoke a little more loudly as his head was still buried in Percy’s neck. Just like the twins, Wilson and Percy spoke in their own silent way, only their silence was accompanied with tactile function - a kiss here, a stroke of the hand there, silent communication aided by sweet little gestures that Wilson was already addicted to.
Wilson kissed Percy lightly on the neck, a silent ‘thank-you’ for the man having come in at all.
Percy couldn’t help but smile at the kiss -- his hand finding its favorite spot on Wilson’s hip. If anyone had told him even a month ago that he was going to be one of those people -- the kind that had nothing against public displays of affection -- he might have laughed. But it was apparently the case, here. “She might just, if asked,” he said, thoughtfully. Ginny was the person he spoke to the most in his family, and he knew her to be kind.
“Eh. She loves us owing favours.” Fred said, with a flippant hand gesture -- one that George mirrored in a shrug. “Gets her better Christmas presents, too.”
“If you’re sure.” Wilson bit his lower lip, feeling indebted to the two puckish boys. “But I owe you too. I can give you a free ... cancer screen. Or pens. I’m lousy with pens.” Wilson grinned, feeling Percy’s hand settle into the place on his hip where it always rested. It made him smile. “Love you, Percy,” he murmured.
Percy only turned a cute shade of pink, but decided on a more clever response than just blushing. “I know.” Retaliation for earlier -- it was only fitting in a joke shop.
The twins, of course, glanced at each other again, and grinned. “Awww,” they said in perfect unison that was only ruined by Fred. “I like pens.”
Wilson couldn’t help but laugh at Percy’s joke, a booming thing that made the corners of his eyes crinkle in pleasure. “If you get caught by a bounty hunter, I’m going to kick you.”
Fishing around in his jacket pocket, Wilson tossed Fred a pen. “You’re welcome.” Because everyone wanted pens for UCI Hospital’s oncology ward. It even came with the little buttons that let it write in red and blue.
“If I’ve been captured by a bounty hunter,” Percy said, going for Very British, and failing because, well, Star Wars, “how could you possibly kick me?” He decided he very much liked Wilson’s unreserved laughs, and couldn’t help but give a giggle of his own.
Fred was fiddling with his pen, oddly gleeful over the silliest of things, and finally slipped it behind his ear. “You can stay,” he told Wilson, quite pointedly.
“We haven’t heard Professional Perce laugh in a decade,” George filled in, quickly. Oh, good, look, Wilson, family approval.
“I’d find you,” Wilson grinned. “Then I’d kick you. Then rescue you. ... probably.” He was amused by the clicking sounds coming from behind him, knowing most of his colleagues did the same thing. Who didn’t click their pens? Zombies, that’s who.
Percy giggling made Wilson practically glow, and he looked up at the twins. “Thank you, Things. ... that sounds terrible. I hope your family has a better nickname for you, mine sounds gross.”
Both the twins cackled, and their laughs were bright, easy and unreserved, so very much unlike Percy’s. “We’re Gred and Forge,” they said, together, amused.
It was always Fred who went just a little bit further though -- if anyone could tell them apart, they would know him as the more outgoing of the two. “But you can call us whatever you like,” it was a strange mixture of glib and flirtatious. George only giggled in response.
“Fred,” Percy said, warningly. Because he did that. He was an Older Brother, after all. Then he hid his face in the small of Wilson’s back. “Buy your things. I’ve had enough of them now.”
Wilson nodded, kissing Percy lightly before moving to the cash wrap. “Okay, so I’ll have to come back someday with the head of pediatrics. He’d love it here.” He grinned at Percy. “His wife’s a peach, you’d like her, she teaches Philosophy at UCI.”
Once his things were in bags, he nodded at the brothers. “If I were you, I’d fight over who gets to be Forge.” That was just a cool nickname.
The twins just shrugged over that, because the whole point was that they both were, or neither were. It didn’t really matter. Names to them were just fun and games, not so much keen identification.
“Family discount,” Fred said, even as he more or less made George do all the work. Percy only rose an eyebrow at the two of them, because even while this had gone better than he might have expected, he was still vaguely suspicious of the two. They had, after all, tormented him a good portion of their youths. Perhaps they’d grown up a bit, since.
“I’d like that,” he said, about the Philosophy teacher, because he’d enjoyed those classes in college more than he probably should have admitted. Arguing logic based on word choice had been a delight.
“We’ll go out to dinner sometime soon. The rumor mill’s gone down quite a bit since the nurses saw me with you. Turns out they thought I was sleeping with one of the girls in intake. Which is just silly.” Wilson nodded, thanking whichever twin had rung him up. “Thanks, really, I’ll be back.”
Reclaiming Percy’s hand, Wilson smiled brightly. “Right. Let’s get you trousers. Never thought I’d say that as a boyfriend.”
The twins cat-called obnoxiously as they left, giving faces and waves. Percy rolled his eyes, but found that he wasn’t as annoyed by the two boys as he had once been. Still. Small doses were better than large ones. The Twins were still just a bit too much.
“New things every day,” he murmured faintly, although he was not sure in reply to what.
Wilson waved as well, grinning and wrapping an arm around Percy’s waist. Once they were outside, safe from catcalling gingers, he leaned in to kiss his boyfriend. He was proud of him - it looked like they hadn’t grown up close, and he respected that it had taken guts to go in.
Percy leaned in close, kissing back even as they stood in the middle of the sidewalk. PDAs were all the rage these days.
Once the need to breathe ran it’s course again, Percy gave a shy almost-smile and took Wilson’s hand, to head for their original destination. “Wilson?”
“Yes?” Wilson smiled, squeezing Percy’s hand in return.
Percy had his Very Serious face on, and he met Wilson’s gaze straight on - looking him in the eye. “...Would you really save me from bounty hunters?”
Wilson didn’t hesitate to answer. “Every single day,” he murmured, leaning forward to kiss him deeply. “I don’t mind being Leia if it means I get to save you.”
Percy actually laughed at that, because no one (No. One.) could imagine Leia without the bikini. It wasn’t a great image. When he pulled back from the kiss, he rose his eyebrow in subtle amusement. “I’d prefer if you just stayed -- well. You.”
“I think I can manage that,” Wilson grinned. “Metal bikinis seem like they’d chafe.” He ran his fingers through Percy’s hair. “Come on. Let’s go get you pants that I can rip off of you later.”